Ripple: Finding Your People Without Explaining Yourself

Ripple · Case Study

Finding your people, made simple.

A mobile-first community-discovery tool for adults experiencing loneliness.

UX Designer & Researcher · 5 weeks · Figma + secondary research · Onboarding flow + community discovery

Research

How I understood the problem

The Loneliness Crisis

61% of adults aged 18–25 report serious loneliness—the highest of any demographic. 81% of lonely adults also report anxiety or depression.

Source: Harvard MCC, 2021

The Treatment Gap

66% of US adults with a mental illness received no treatment in 2024. Adults 18–25 have the highest prevalence and the lowest treatment rate.

Source: NAMI, 2024

Stigma & Self-Reliance

63.8% of people cited "desire to handle the problem on one's own" as their #1 reason for not seeking support.

63.8% of people cited “desire to handle the problem on one’s own” as their #1 reason for not seeking support.

Source: Corrigan, WHO

Cognitive Load & Distress

People in emotional distress have measurably reduced working memory. Every unnecessary choice or form field raises the barrier to engagement at exactly the wrong moment.

Source: Sweller, Cognitive Load Theory

How might we help socially isolated adults feel like they genuinely belong somewhere?

"I'm in crisis"

“I’m in crisis”

"I'm fine, just a little lost"

“I’m fine, just a little lost”

The Ripple Zone

Ripple was built for everyone in between.

Ripple was built for everyone.

Personas

Who I designed for

Jordan Kim

27 · Junior Software Developer · Seattle

"I've Googled 'support groups Seattle' like three times. Half the results are dead links."

“I’ve Googled ‘support groups Seattle’ like three times. Half the results are dead links.”

Biggest Barrier:

Discovery gap—he knows what he wants but can't find it.

Discovery gap; he knows what he wants but can't find it.

Goals:

· Find free local peer support.

· Rebuild a "somewhere to go" feeling.

Frustrations:

· Search results are outdated or broken links.

· Doesn't know what orgs exist in the city.

Maya Reyes

22 · Student & Barista · Bellevue

"I just feel alone since I moved here—but every time I look, it's all therapy and hotlines."

“I just feel alone since I moved here—but every time I look, it’s all therapy and hotlines.”

Biggest Barrier:

Doesn't feel "disconnected enough" to deserve help, so she doesn't reach out.

Doesn’t feel “disconnected enough” to deserve help, so she doesn’t reach out.

Goals:

· Understand what free options exist nearby.

· Feel less alone without having to explain her whole situation.

Frustrations:

· Searches return therapy or long-term commitments.

· Can't find local community groups nearby.

· Searches return therapy or long-term commitments.

· Can’t find local community groups nearby.

Design

What guided every decision

Emotion First

Prioritizing feelings over clinical labels creates a supportive atmosphere without pressure.

Reduce Complexity

Simplifying choices minimizes cognitive load so users can navigate confidently.

Respect Autonomy

No required fields, mandatory paths, or diagnoses—users browse on their own terms.

Privacy by Default

No public profiles, no visible activity. Privacy is a precondition for engagement.

"You're Allowed"

Ripple never asks users to identify as "in crisis." Everyone belongs, no qualifications needed.

User Flow

Splash / Welcome

→

User opens app.

Disclaimer / Consent

→

Informed consent.

Multi-select experiences.

Experience Selection

Skip

→

Optional identity tags.

Identity / Community

Skip

→

Personalized feed.

Explore Feed

First-time onboarding

Designed to collect only what's needed—no required fields.

First-time onboarding

Designed to collect only what's needed—no required fields.

Splash / Welcome

Disclaimer / Consent

Experience Selection

Identity / Community

Explore Feed

→

User opens app.

Informed consent.

Multi-select experiences.

Optional identity tags.

Personalized feed.

Optional identity tags.

Personalized feed.

Experience Selection

Skip

Identity / Community

Skip

User Flow

Designed to collect only what's needed—no required fields.

First-time onboarding

Explore Feed

Design decisions in practice

Every screen traces back to a finding.

Design Decision 01

Consent before anything else

The disclaimer explains what Ripple is—and what it isn't—in plain language before asking anything of the user. Privacy is treated as onboarding content, not fine print. Checkboxes start unchecked to avoid a consent dark pattern common in sensitive apps.

The disclaimer explains what Ripple is—and what it isn’t—in plain language before asking anything of the user. Privacy is treated as onboarding content, not fine print. Checkboxes start unchecked to avoid a consent dark pattern common in sensitive apps.

| "I just want somewhere to go." —Maya

| “I just want somewhere to go.” —Maya

Source: WHO autonomy barrier · Corrigan stigma research

Design Decision 02

Everyday language, not clinical labels

Experience options use plain language anyone can relate to. No option implies the user is broken. Multi-select lets users define their own combination without being forced into a single category.

| "I don't want to have to explain myself just to find a group." —Maya

| “I don’t want to have to explain myself just to find a group.” —Maya

Source: WHO autonomy barrier · Corrigan stigma research

Design Decision 03

Trustworthy results, free by default

Every listing shows an "active within 30 days" badge—eliminating dead links, Jordan's #1 frustration. Cost-free resources surface first without needing a filter. Drop-in options are tagged prominently for users not ready for long-term commitments.

Every listing shows an “active within 30 days” badge—eliminating dead links, Jordan’s #1 frustration. Cost-free resources surface first without needing a filter. Drop-in options are tagged prominently for users not ready for long-term commitments.

| "Half the results are dead links." —Jordan

| “Half the results are dead links.” —Jordan

Source: SAMHSA · MHA: 24.58% of distressed adults can't afford care

Source: SAMHSA · MHA: 24.58% of distressed adults can’t afford care

Design Decision 04

No search ever returns "nothing"

No search ever returns “nothing”

When a search yields no exact match, the screen validates the effort and immediately offers related alternatives. The copy never says "no results found"—a phrase that reads as rejection to an already isolated user.

When a search yields no exact match, the screen validates the effort and immediately offers related alternatives. The copy never says “no results found”—a phrase that reads as rejection to an already isolated user.

| "It's all therapy and hotlines." —Maya

| “It’s all therapy and hotlines.” —Maya

Source: Sweller Cognitive Load Theory · Harvard MCC

Welcome / Splash

Platform Preference

Identity Selection

Quick Results

Process

The structure came first. The feeling came after.

Wireframe

Hi-Fi

Wireframe

Hi-Fi

Consent evolved from a text block to an onboarding moment.

Dead gray boxes became living, active community cards.

Takeaways

What I learned, and what comes next.

How I'd test it:

I'd recruit 5–8 participants matching Jordan and Maya's profiles—adults 22–38 experiencing social isolation. Three usability tasks: complete onboarding, find one relevant community, and search for a specific interest. Success metrics: task completion rate, time-on-task, and whether users feel the language is welcoming rather than clinical.

I’d recruit 5–8 participants matching Jordan and Maya’s profiles—adults 22–38 experiencing social isolation. Three usability tasks: complete onboarding, find one relevant community, and search for a specific interest. Success metrics: task completion rate, time-on-task, and whether users feel the language is welcoming rather than clinical.

What I'd do differently:

I underestimated how much the empty state screens matter. A user who searches and finds nothing is at their most vulnerable—I'd spend more time on those edge cases. I'd also test the Ripple Zone diagram with real users earlier; it was the hardest concept to communicate visually.

I underestimated how much the empty state screens matter. A user who searches and finds nothing is at their most vulnerable—I’d spend more time on those edge cases. I’d also test the Ripple Zone diagram with real users earlier; it was the hardest concept to communicate visually.

Where this goes next:

Ripple is designed for people who are already hesitant. Every untested assumption is a potential reason for someone to close the app. The next step is getting it in front of real users—specifically people who match Jordan and Maya's profiles—and finding out what breaks.